LOOKING BACK ON THE KING OF THE HEADBANGER'S BALL RIKI RACHTMAN by Al Brzostowski

Before becoming a full-time VJ for Headbangers Ball, Rachtman made guest appearances as a fill-in and guest VJ for the show in 1989 while Adam Curry was still the main host for the program at that time. From 1990-1995, Rachtman hosted MTV's heavy metal show Headbangers Ball (replacing Adam Curry) as a full-time VJ. His friend at the time, Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses, reportedly was instrumental in him getting the job at MTV. He was the owner of the Cathouse nightclub, for many years a showcase for many of the heavy metal bands that were featured on Headbangers Ball. During this time, he also ran another nightclub called the Bordello.

Every year he rides his motorcycle throughout America for charity. This year he's partnered with a great charity called Stop Soldier Suicide. Stop Soldier Suicide helps with mental health, PTSD, and/or TBI referrals, emergency financial aid, housing assistance, alternative therapies, retreats for military, veterans, and their families and education/GI Bill.

We had a chance to catch up with Riki recently, and had a great conversation.

METAL PULP AND PAPER: Looking back at your career, what is a moment that you can look back at it, and go, "Hell Yeah, this was all worth it?"

RIKI RACHTMAN: Oh God! Everything that I say it's worth it, I mean everything, even a failure, is worth it. And every time, my thing is, I have a really, really bad memory. Like really bad. But you know sometimes, I'll see a video that somebody posted or something like that, that make me really stand out. Ozzy Osbourne bringing me on stage and dumping a bucket of water on my head in New Orleans, saying, "Give it up for Riki Rachtman." That was pretty cool. Talking to some of the legendary masters, Dio, or Brian Johnson, Angus Young and stuff like that. Those are the things that, you know, that as a as a rock fan, make you go wow, you know? These people aren’t even realizing that I’m just a fan, and all of a sudden I was a journalist. But still just a fan with a microphone. It was incredible.

MPAP: Of course, and not saying how old I am to remember seeing you as the VJ on MTV’s Headbangers Ball, auditioning for them, getting the spot, and appearing in the music video of Guns N' Roses "November Rain" , give us a snapshot into that timeline.

RIKI: Whenever people mentioned the hair thing, and I was like, really guys, are you guys still talking about the hair? But it's always easier for me to figure out a timeline, because of the hair. Even though I was on Headbangers Ball for five years, I only had long hair for a little less than two years of the show, which most people don't know. But when I did that video, it was right before I cut my hair. So you know Axl always a guy like, whenever it came to cool stuff, he would always include his friends. So, the "November Rain" video was kind of like, 'Okay I want this person to be in this scene. I want this person being there. I want you to come to the rainbow, and then I want you to be in the wedding scene. So wear a suit and tie, and do this, and you know, he was always one, and in the whole band for that matter, was always one that included, because we were all our family back then. Axl was so influential back then with the MTV thing.

MPAP: Do you ever speak to Adam Curry? We know you took over his slot on HBB.

RR: Yes I did, he was doing the show originally. What a lot of people don't realize, there were a couple episodes of the show that he was still the host and they would throw to me at one of my clubs in LA., called Bordello, and I be interviewing Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols,or the bandJunk, or Faster Pussycat. That was way before I was ever a VJ on Headbangers Ball. And then you know come 1990 there like okay Riki wants you to be the host of the show so, he was out and I was in. Adam was an MTV VJ. Even though, I got more mail than almost anybody there, I never looked at myself as like, 'I was an MTV DJ'. If you think of everyone like Adam and Martha, they were VJ's. They did a whole bunch of different things. I just did Headbangers Ball, even though, many years later, I get all those reality shows on VH1. I never thought of myself as one of those VJ’s. They could have brought me on to do any other shows, they brought me on to do Headbangers Ball. I don’t know if Adam was upset about it. I mean obviously I was more qualified for that. And he’d be the first one to admit it. MPAP: I had to chuckle watching the interviews you had with some big names on MTV. One of which was Danzig. You couldn’t help but laugh. What was Glenn doing?

RIKI: Well, here’s the thing that people don’t understand. People love to think that, 'Glenn Danzig hated Riki Rachtman, and Dave Mustaine hated Riki Rachtman', because those guys always gave me a hard time. What they didn’t understand was Glenn Danzig and Megadeth played my birthday party all the time. Glenn would do acoustic shows in my club all the time. Those guys were my friends. I don’t know how most people are, but you always mess with your friends. So, what Glenn said was, on that interview in Germany, "Look man, I don't want to talk about the Misfits thing, I don't want to talk about the Misfits thing". So I’m interviewing him, in a castle in Germany, and I brought up the Misfits thing. He said, "don’t do it. Don’t do it." So when I brought it up, he pretended to throw me in the fire. Everyone acted like that was such a taboo subject. But look, they did get back together and play anyways. MPAP: And as a musician yourself, any plans on doing reunions, new projects?

RIKI: Whenever there’s an opportunity to get up on stage, especially with Ace Von Johnson of Faster Pussycat. The last time I got up on stage was with Ace Von Johnson of, Wayne from Hatebreed, a couple guys... Acey Slade from the Misfits. So, when people want me to get on stage with them, or when they don't want me to, but it's very very rare. I mean I love singing you know when I started, I'm not very good, but whenever I started, all this is like you know I want to be a rockstar. Whenever I go to shows I was like, man, I want to be that guy on stage. Even though I obviously did not work out for me like that, but you know I always wanted to. And there’s talk of one day doing a bunch of punk rock covers, and that I would do. If anything would get recorded, it would be with Ace. But right now, it’s just talk. Even though he’s much younger than I am, he listens to a lot of the music I grew up listening to. MPAP: The Cathouse was opened in 1986 with an amazing list of talent hitting the stage during its lifetime. Some of the biggest names had their start there. Can you briefly run down some of them with us, and share some stories.

RIKI: I mean you know I've done a lot of things that I kind of been very humble about. I downgrade a lot of the stuff I’ve done. But I couldn’t be more proud about the Cathouse than anything I have ever done. I opened that club in 1986. People still are buying t-shirts, people are still asking me to do another club, and to know that I opened up the greatest rock and roll club in the world, I don’t care what anybody says. Yes, CBGB’s was an important club, but the Cathouse was the greatest in the world. And I did that. I know if it wasn't for Taime, it wouldn’t have happened, but the Cathouse is the greatest thing I’ve ever done. I’ve got the word 'Cathouse' tattooed on me twice. MPAP: Taime Downe of Faster Pussycat, a former roomate at the time, was a partner. Are you two still close?

RIKI: We’re closer now than we’ve ever been in the 80s or 90s. I care more about him now, he’s like a brother. I love that guy and we talk constantly. He doesn't smoke, he doesn't drink, he doesn't do drugs, and that's bizarre. For saying Taime doesn’t smoke, it’s like saying the sun doesn’t come out. I mean, he'll call me, and I live on the east coast now. He'll call me, and it will be like in 7 in the morning, and I ask what’s going on. He just finished his morning walk. My god what has changed! He's doing phenomenal. I go see the band live every chance I get. Not only because of him, but because I think they’re great live band. Taime is doing great.

MPAP: You’ve seen some crazy crap in the music scene, I’m sure. Can you give us one that comes to mind?

RIKI: There’s so many times that it has happened. When your security guard tells you that Axl Rose is chasing David Bowie down the street, what are you going to do? There’s stuff like that that happened all the time. Even as recent as the Cathouse 30th anniversary, not one person had any idea who was playing. I kept it so secret, no one knew. And then Twisted Sister, who wasn’t even playing together anymore, gets up and plays. Sitting on the stage watching Ace Frehley and Sebastian Bach play at my event. Alice Cooper on Halloween. There’s just so many stories. And as far as those decadent and wrong things, I can’t tell you those, and never will... Either I forgot them, or I want to maintain my friendship. MPAP: Being around music most of your life, you can tell pretty much when a band has their shit together. Is there any unknowns, new bands or talent you want to suggest or let us know to watch out for?

RIKI: I will tell you this, even though this may not be the genre I normally listen to, but, Jason Butler from The Fever 333. Also, They Live, and I’ve never seen a frontman like this in my life. I mean, this guy is just dangerous. That’s all I can say. I mean, when I go to shows, everything from country to punk rock. I’ve seen Anthrax more this year than back years ago. I just love music. Sometimes, I’ll say I love this new band, and it’s old. I can say I love Lamb of God, and they’ve been out for a while. To me, I like new bands like Lamb of God, who have been together for 15-20 years. Burn the Priest is my favorite album. Without a doubt. MPAP: In 2003, you became the host of a syndicated rock music and Nascar-themed radio show called Racing Rocks. Tell us about it.

RIKI: My show, Racing Rocks, has been on for 15 years. And it’s heard on stations all over America. And I work for a couple of race tracks. I don’t have anything on Nascar TV at all anymore. MPAP: I see you’re with Death Wish Coffee. Other than the obvious, how did you get connected with this? I see Zakk Wylde and his insanity all over the social media outlets with DWC. RIKI: Death Wish are our friends, and sponsor a lot of my rides, which has been taking up so much of my time. The riding is the easy part, it’s the setup that’s hard. MPAP: You became a minister, and officiated the wedding of Jason & Kelly Allison in Georgetown, Texas on 25 March 2018. Was this something spiritual, or something more?

RIKI: I have done two weddings now. March was the most recent. So far, I’ve officiated two weddings so far, both are still married, so I’m at a hundred percent, so that’s good. I love doing that. That’s something really fun, especially when someone says that they got married by Riki Rachtman. Of course I throw in some fun stuff in it. Like lyrics to the bride and grooms’ favorite songs. But I take it very seriously. I may do more. MPAP: Riki’s Ride is coming up on the 23rd of July, benefiting the Stop Soldier Suicide. Let’s get the details, and how anyone can help.

RIKI: Well, Riki’s Ride I’ve done every year for five years now. I go out on a motorcycle ride, throughout America. People follow me on social media and meet me at places. I just have a blast. And I’ve always had a different charity . Last year, I raised money for with family members who have Cystic Fibrosis. I raised $20,000 without producers or anything. Just support through people online and stuff like that. This year, is different than every other year. I’m bringing someone with me this time on the back of my bike. I’m raising money for Stop Soldier Suicide. This is a great cause, because 22 veterans kill themselves every day. Stop Soldier Suicide really helps veterans cope by financial aid or counseling, putting them in touch with the right people. On my ride, I’ve come in contact with veterans that have told me that how rough it is out there. That’s the best thing about this ride, I don’t have security and all these people. It’s just me, and I come in contact with these great people. We just put on EBay that you can walk around the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with me and Lea Vendetta, who is one of the InkMasters, who also is doing the ride with me. I’m just putting these real cool stops and experiences that are very interactive online. There’s just so much negativity, and we’re going out seeing America. It’s great right now. That’s what I enjoy the most.